Editorial Review:Product Description:The inspiring story of a rag-tag team of amateur American athletes that stunned the sports world comes to life in this dramatization of the first modern Olympic games revived in 1896. Veteran Actor Louis Jourdan stars as Baron Pierre du Coubertin, a relentless visionary who sets out to renew the ancient Olympic games after 1500 years. Dr. William Sloane (David Ogden Stiers) is the Princeton professor who pulls together the first American team with 13 unlikely boys and a meager supply of sports equipment. Competing in events that had never been seen in the United States before the Americans went on to Athens and secured the winner's post despite almost insurmountable odds.
Amazon.com:This television miniseries tells the story of the founding of the modern Olympics by focusing on individuals in several countries and their preparations and eventual competition in Athens in 1896. David Ogden Stiers (a familiar face to viewers of
M*A*S*H reruns) portrays a Princeton classics professor whose knowledge of the ancient Olympics means he's given the task of recruiting an American team for the 1896 games. The stories of how some athletes have to be convinced to join the team may seem contrived, but they do reinforce the idea of how fragile the concept of reviving the Olympics was at the time. A young David Caruso (years before he'd swagger through the stationhouse of
N.Y.P.D. Blue) portrays a cocky Boston Irishman who walks away from a Harvard scholarship to participate in track events. And if Caruso does veer perilously close to doing an extended James Cagney impression, he serves as a sturdy focal point to the American team. Once in Athens, the focus is very much on the American athletes and their surprising success, and there are some interesting and humorous touches in the plot. For instance, the fledgling American team had enlisted a local blacksmith to render an iron discus, thereby giving them an unexpected advantage when presented with the much lighter 'official' discus in Athens. Even if the various plots and subplots about the athletes don't always hold up very well, the scenes of competition in Athens do provide an entertaining re-creation of the first modern Olympics.
--Robert J. McNamara
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Wonderful Re-Creation
I saw this movie when it first came out years ago and was so glad to find it out on DVD. Even though there are personal story sections that are a bit "dragged-out", the athletes accomplishments and how they got there make for a great story. I thought they did a great job making this movie, and appreciated re-seeing it again.
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A family classic
* We recorded this mini-series when it was first broadcast on NBC. We nearly wore the tape out over the years until someone \"borrowed\" it and did not return it. We have been searching for a copy until now. It is not an oscar-class big budget movie, but for us, it has fond memories. It harkens back to a more simple time, and some of the scenes, such as when the results of the first day's competition reach the US by telegraph are tear inducing. A very good movie to watch each Olympic season! ...
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Great Movie About the Olympics
Outstanding movie. I don't believe it is historicly correct, but, is very well done and very entertaining.
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Awesome movie FINALLY on DVD
* This movie is a slightly glossy version of American atheletes involvement in the first modern Olympics in Athens, 1896. David Caruso fans will really enjoy this early performance as an working class Irish American determined to triumph over racial prejudice and win gold in the Olympics. The casting was very good. Despite the fact that most of the actors are little known, the quality of acting is good and keeps the viewer engaged throughout the story.
I taped this movie off the TV when it was first aired in the 1980's. My family and I watched the First Olympics many, many times over next couple of decades until our sad VHS copy finally gave up the ghost. Every four years, with each summer Olympics, I have eagerly awaited this movie's release on DVD. Finally it is here.
The sound and picture quality of this copy is far better than the original television airing. I would highly recommend this satisfying, feel good movie to anyone. ...
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great movie
i've been waiting years for the release of this movie. it's finally out.
i love it. watch it you'll like it.
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